Seventeen Days and Counting...

That's how long Olympia resident Matt Duran has been held at the SeaTac Federal Detention Center for <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/09/13/activists-summoned-... to testify before a federal grand jury</a>, ostensibly about political or social acquaintances who may have had something to do with the political vandalism on <a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/05/02/why-all-the-smashy-... Day.</a></p>
<p>At least three people have appeared before the grand jury after a series of raids and subpoenas issued in July. The warrants for the raids listed black clothes, sticks, paint, notebooks, and "anti-government or anarchist literature or material" among the items to search for.</p>
<p>Two of the three&#8212;Matt Duran and Katherine &#8220;KteeO&#8221; Olejnik&#8212;are currently imprisoned at the SeaTac FDC for refusing to cooperate. The third, <a href="http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/political-convictions/Content?oid=143... Plante</a>, who prosecutors admit was not in Seattle on May Day, remains free.</p></td><td><img title="Chilling" src="http://anarchistnews.org/files/pictures/2010/cat_attack.jpg"></td></tr><...
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<p>Duran had a hearing last week. Some eyewitness details from <a href="http://nopoliticalrepression.wordpress.com/">nopoliticalrepression.wordp...
<blockquote><p>... Matt&#8217;s lawyer took the floor to explain Matt&#8217;s current conditions and intentions. Here is an abridged and bullet-point list of issues and information brought up by Matt&#8217;s lawyer in court &#8212;</p>
<p>Matt is in Solitary Confinement (the Secure Housing Unit) which means &#8230;<br />+ he has very little access to phone<br />+ he has been denied the ability to initiate contact with attorney<br />+ he has been denied visitor request forms<br />+ he has been denied vegan food (has access to vegetarian options and commissary items)<br />+ he has no way of socializing within the prison<br />+ he has no access to sunlight, fresh air or an untinted window to the outdoors</p>
<p>Even under these conditions, Matt has no intention of changing his mind or strategy. Matt&#8217;s lawyer explained that Matt will be at peace no matter where he is within the prison. She said that he would like to socialize and play chess with other inmates, but is content where he is. He has a clock radio and a couple of romance novels the prison gave him upon arrival.</p></blockquote>
<p>The local chapter of the National Lawyers Guild <a href="http://nlgseattle.org/node/57">has urged</a> the FBI and US Attorney Jenny Durkan to drop the subpoenas, arguing:</p>
<blockquote><p>While grand juries are part of our federal criminal justice system, the grand jury was intended to serve as a protector of people&#8217;s rights and should not be used as a mechanism for intimidating those who speak out against social and economic injustice in our society. &#8220;Movements and individuals working for social change in the United States have historically been at the receiving end of grand juries being used to harass political activism,&#8221; said Neil Kelley, an officer of the Seattle NLG. </p></blockquote>
<p>Throughout the process, Emily Langlie from the US Attorney's office has reiterated: "We do not prosecute people for their political beliefs."</p>

It feels like anarchist news is being run by a little kid. How old is the moderator of this website? 12? Enough with the silly pictures that have nothing to do with each article. How can anyone take this place seriously when the people running this website are so immature? I feel embarrassed that north american anarchists are being portrayed in such an unserious way like we're all a bunch of kids. Who ever is running this place. You need to SERIOUSLY GROW UP! Some of us are in our late 20's and much older and feel that this is not a serious platform for debate and info sharing. The world that we live in is not a silly and happy so stop acting like everything is fine and show some maturity. Been following this website for 4 years and I'm still trying to figure out what grade this kid is in or if it's someone in their 30's who thinks everything in life is honky dory. This place feels more like a kids club and I feel insulted by it.

Well if the person running this site is much older and doesn't believe everything is honky dory, they need to start showing it by expressing a little seriousness that comes with adulthood. They should show it by posting articles with relevant pictures taken from the scene and not flying cats and dogs and or crap that has nothing to do with anything except maybe delusional people who are not alright in the head.

The Hung fu cat and poneys with rainbows with pink skies and people with animated faces and bulging eyes doesn't fit what is being talked about and shows a disrespect for the struggle that people go through. It's as if the person in charge has had too many encounters with LSD & mushrooms and lost their marbles. I'm really beginning to question the sanity of the site owner. What is the intention behind all of this?

These pictures seem disconnected from the reality that is being discussed in every topic and there for make this place seem emotionally dead when I'm not dead inside and feel everything all at once. It is offensive. It's one of the reason I don't like coming here but I do have hope that things will change before I decide to leave and others do to and I just hate the thought of others coming here out of curiosity and turning their back on anything having to do with anarchists because this site confirms what peoples preconceived notions that we are not serious people to begin with.

Being here only 4 years makes me think it must have been this way from the beginning which is very sad. What's up with the the blue and white format? You want to talk about "BORING" This place is "BOOOOORING"! Why not all black with white text maybe with a picture of social struggle pouring into the streets as maybe a background or maybe a borderline at the top with the letter A encircled big & bold? Wouldn't that fit the mood of what we discuss since. So much is missing. So much that doesn't connect with real life it's amazing that this place is even called anarchist news.

You're in your late twenties and you're /still/ taking this world seriously? If you felt so strongly about your perception of the world and your convictions, you wouldn't allow internet memes disrupt them. Get over it and laugh some before you die.

"Even under these conditions, Matt has no intention of changing his mind or strategy. Matt’s lawyer explained that Matt will be at peace no matter where he is within the prison. She said that he would like to socialize and play chess with other inmates, but is content where he is. He has a clock radio and a couple of romance novels the prison gave him upon arrival."

Man, that guy rules! He looks like some funny hipster on the photos, but he's tougher than steel.

While I know this sounds desperately reformist, what about pressuring Amnesty International on these cases? How the fuck the FBI would behave like if they get openly blamed for political repression by such a reputable humanitarian goofs?

... you're kidding. Amnesty International only criticizes people who don't run the UN. You need to learn more about the wonderful world of multi-national NGOs and poverty-pimping. They ain't the "good guys", suffice to say.